Chapter 129: The Fortunate One

After arriving at Changchun Dian, Bi Zhen lost track of her target. After all, she was on the opponent’s turf, where it was easy enough for them to cover their tracks.

Bi Zhen didn’t give up so easily. Though she’d left her magical props aboard the ship in the harbor, she simply disguised herself as a traveling physician and roamed the area gathering information.

Upon arriving at Changchun Lake, Bizhen lost track of her target. After all, it was their territory, and it was easy for them to conceal things if they wanted to.

Bizhen didn’t give up, though. The magician had been left in the harbor, so she disguised herself as a wandering physician, moving around to gather information.

In Shijia Village, Bizhen was accidentally encountered by the steward of the Zhuang family and was invited to treat the young master. Upon seeing the child, Shilengzi, Bizhen immediately recognized that he was born with a congenital deficiency, which would be difficult to cure. However, straightforward as she was, Bizhen knew better than to say such things outright. She used some minor techniques to make the child more comfortable, doing her best to help.

Gradually, she began to hear rumors from the villagers about ghosts haunting Changchun Palace. Naturally, she thought of her original purpose for tracking and decided to secretly investigate the palace. Relying on her numerous magical tools, she managed to sneak in and discovered a small cauldron.

“This cauldron was strange at the time. There were no protections around it; it was just placed on a table in the room, with a person staring at it in a daze, seemingly doing nothing,” Bizhen recalled. “I just felt that the aura of the cauldron was somewhat special, though it wasn’t as powerful as it is now. It seemed like something was suppressing it. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I just thought that since I had come all this way and the scene in the courtyard didn’t seem benevolent, I might as well provoke them a bit. So, I took the cauldron and ran.”

Zhang Shisan listened and pondered for a while before saying, “According to my thoughts, this cauldron and the formation in the courtyard might not have a direct relationship. The secrets within it might not even be fully understood by its original owner. The origin of this cauldron is likely extraordinary. However, it seems to have a connection with Mei Qing.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with this cauldron. It latched onto me and won’t let go. I think my escape technique failed because of it, and I ended up in the room. It must have drawn me there. Now, I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.”

Zhang Shisan chuckled and said, “Well, your cultivation has advanced significantly. How can you call it a curse? Many people would wish for such a ‘curse.’ As for Tian Niu’s death and the paper figures and horses in the courtyard, they might be related. If my suspicions are correct, these things have harmed more than just Tian Niu’s family.”

“Master,” Bizhen asked curiously, “Why did they harm Tian Niu? Is it related to the paper figures and horses?”

Zhang Shisan nodded and said, “People say that paper figures and horses can turn beans into soldiers. In reality, these things are mostly puppets and not particularly powerful. They can be easily destroyed by something that counters them, like dog blood. However, in the dark arts, there are secret techniques that not only enhance the abilities of paper figures and horses but also prevent them from being destroyed by common methods. One such technique requires the blood of a virgin bride, obtained willingly. If the paper figures and horses in the courtyard were created using this method, then they have harmed more than just Tian Niu. Their ambitions are indeed terrifying.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “If what you say is true, then the nightmare spirits are a powerful tool against cultivators. If the paper figures and horses have overcome their previous weaknesses, then the world’s armies would be helpless against them. It’s not hard to guess what the people in the courtyard are preparing these for. What I don’t understand is who is behind all this and why they are using the Fragrance Sect as a front.”

“Who cares?” Zhang Shisan said indifferently. “Once we destroy their courtyard and capture these demons, you can ask them yourself.”

“Eh?” Mei Qing was surprised. “Master, didn’t you previously tell me a lot about staying within my limits and not going against the tide? Why have you suddenly changed your mind and decided to crash their party?”

“That was then,” Zhang Shisan snorted. “Now that you two have stolen their stuff, and you didn’t even do it cleanly, you’ve already crossed paths and fought with them. What’s the point of hiding? Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well strike first and turn everything upside down. Besides, with the Zhuang couple backing us, we won’t have to put in much effort.”

When Zhang Shisan mentioned the Zhuang couple, Mei Qing thought of the child they had treated and changed the topic. “Master, how is the child now?”

“How else? With me taking action, the illness was naturally cured,” Zhang Shisan said proudly.

“With you taking action? It was all my work,” Mei Qing thought to himself but didn’t argue. Instead, he asked, “Master, you mentioned that the Zhuang couple could help, and that they would back us in dealing with the Fragrance Sect. But from what I can see, Mrs. Zhuang is severely weakened, and Mr. Zhuang has no cultivation. How can they be of much help?”

Zhang Shisan shook his head, took a sip of wine from his gourd, and said, “Kid, you’re still too naive. You haven’t seen the bigger picture. The Fragrance Sect was accidentally created by that little fox. If she doesn’t clean it up, who will? Besides, it’s also in her best interest. If the Fragrance Sect causes more trouble, her retribution will be even worse. Her son’s condition is partly due to the union of a human and a demon being against the natural order, and partly due to the retribution from the Fragrance Sect. So, karma is indeed a tricky thing. Sometimes, you don’t even know how you got involved, and before you know it, you’re trapped, and you don’t even know how you died.”

Mei Qing and Bizhen exchanged glances, both feeling a bit uneasy. Bizhen, who had always practiced with karma in mind, found it hard to accept Zhang Shisan’s words. Mei Qing, on the other hand, had heard Zhang Shisan and Master Ku discuss the origins of karma multiple times and felt a deeper impact.

Mei Qing also thought about how he and Bizhen were closely connected. Just by accepting the cauldron, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, but during their dual cultivation, he still needed Bizhen to help him pass the Qi Refining stage. This showed that the two of them were inseparable. However, one was involved in karma, and the other was not. How would this messy account be settled in the end?

Their situation was somewhat similar to that of the Zhuang couple. Mr. Zhuang wasn’t even a cultivator, let alone involved in karma. Yet, just by marrying a demoness, he had to endure so much suffering. It was hard to say how all this would be resolved.

Thinking of this, Mei Qing couldn’t help but ask, “Mrs. Zhuang is one thing, but why do you insist on involving the Zhuang couple? Mr. Zhuang clearly isn’t a cultivator. Why drag him into this? Is there some deeper meaning?”

“Hehe, silly boy, haven’t you noticed that Mr. Zhuang has something extraordinary about him?” Zhang Shisan asked with a teasing smile.

Mei Qing and Bizhen exchanged glances, both frowning as they tried to recall everything they knew about Mr. Zhuang. In the end, they both shook their heads, indicating they hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Zhang Shisan laughed and said, “No wonder you didn’t think of it. It’s indeed somewhat unexpected. Haven’t you noticed that Mr. Zhuang seems to have incredibly good luck? It’s as if good things come to him without him even seeking them out.”

Bizhen felt a bit deflated and said somewhat annoyed, “Master, you’re teasing us again. What’s so special about good luck?”

“How is it not special?” Zhang Shisan said. “Since you’re involved in karma, you should know that luck doesn’t come by chance. Mr. Zhuang must have a very fortunate destiny. Otherwise, how could the little fox stay by his side without the thunder tribulations approaching? Think about it, this guy has no real skills, yet a beautiful demoness comes to him, serving and taking care of him, giving him both beauty and wealth. He spends his days drinking without a care in the world… Can any of us claim to have such luck?”

“Well…” Bizhen was momentarily speechless. “Master, are you saying that Mr. Zhuang must have had some good karma in his past life? If that’s the case, shouldn’t he just enjoy it in this life? Why drag him into this? Are you just trying to benefit from his good fortune? Can his luck alone really destroy the Fragrance Sect?”

“Hehe, little girl, don’t be so skeptical. Since I’ve arranged it this way, there must be a reason. You’ll find out in due time,” Zhang Shisan said smugly.

As he spoke, he glanced at the sky outside and said, “That little fox seems smart, but why is she handling this so poorly? Has she forgotten about the doctor now that her son is better? Are we going to miss out on today’s wine?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous voice was heard outside the courtyard, “Old Daoist Master, Shi is here to kowtow to you!”

Everyone turned around to see Mr. Zhuang running over. From a distance, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud, kowtowed, and then remained prostrate on the ground, wailing loudly.

“Ah, Master, please slow down…” Everyone was stunned by Mr. Zhuang’s sudden display. Fortunately, Mrs. Zhuang soon arrived, carrying Shilengzi, and helped Mr. Zhuang up, saying somewhat apologetically, “My husband was overwhelmed with emotion. Please don’t laugh.”

Mr. Zhuang was crying uncontrollably, tears streaming down his beard and soaking his clothes. He clung to Mrs. Zhuang and said, “My dear, it’s finally over. Shilengzi is really better, wah…”

Mrs. Zhuang held her wide-eyed son in one arm and comforted Mr. Zhuang with the other. Mr. Zhuang, a burly man, cried loudly in Mrs. Zhuang’s arms, while she spoke softly to soothe him. The three of them, each in their own way, presented a scene that left everyone present dumbfounded.

Bizhen murmured, “So, having too much luck turns people into this… Mei Qing, you’re quite lucky too. Be careful.”

Meanwhile, she gradually heard from local villagers whispers about ghosts haunting Changchun Palace. Naturally, this reminded her of her original mission, so she secretly went to investigate the palace. Relying on her many magical artifacts, she managed to sneak inside and discovered a small cauldron.

“This cauldron was strange,” Bi Zhen recalled. “It wasn’t protected at all, just sitting on a table inside the room, with someone staring blankly at it, lost in thought. I just felt its aura was a bit unusual—back then it wasn’t nearly as powerful as it is now, as if something was suppressing it. I didn’t think much of it, but since I was already there and the courtyard didn’t seem like a place of good intent, I decided to provoke them a little and took the cauldron with me.”

Zhang Shisan listened and mused before replying, “From what I can tell, this cauldron probably isn’t directly connected to the formation in that courtyard. The original owner might not even have understood its true nature. This cauldron’s origins must be quite unusual. But it seems to have a destined bond with Mei Qing.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with this cauldron, but once it saw me, it just wouldn’t let go. I guess my teleportation failing and ending up inside the house must have been pulled there by the cauldron too. Now I don’t know whether this is a blessing or a curse.”

Zhang Shisan chuckled, “Well, your cultivation has advanced greatly now. So what are you complaining about? I’d say this kind of ‘curse’ is exactly what people all over the world would be praying for. But Sweetie’s death and those paper horses and soldiers in the courtyard are probably connected. If my guess is right, these things have probably claimed more than just her life.”

“Master,” Bi Zhen asked curiously, “why would they target Sweetie? Is it really related to those paper figures?”

Zhang Shisan nodded. “People often speak of paper horses and soldiers or scattering beans to summon troops. Most of these are just basic puppetry techniques, not particularly powerful. A little dog’s blood poured over them, and they’d be destroyed instantly. However, among the dark sects, there are secret methods that not only enhance the power of these paper figures but also protect them from common countermeasures. One such method requires the blood of a virgin bride, obtained willingly. If the paper figures in that courtyard were indeed created this way, then Sweetie is certainly not their only victim. Their plans, well, they must be quite alarming.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “If what you say is true, then those dream spirits are an excellent tool against cultivators. If the paper figures have overcome their previous weaknesses, even ordinary armies would be helpless against them. What those people in the courtyard are preparing is obvious without even guessing. I just don’t understand who is really behind all this and why they chose to use the Fragrant Sect as a cover.”

“Who cares?” Zhang Shisan replied dismissively. “Once we smash their hideout and capture all those demons, you can ask them yourself.”

“Huh?” Mei Qing said in surprise. “Master, didn’t you just lecture me before about staying within my bounds and not going against the tide? Why the sudden change of heart to attack their base now?”

“Back then was back then,” Zhang Shisan huffed. “Now you two have already stolen their things, and not only that, you’ve been clumsy about it, even fighting them face to face. So what’s the point of hiding anymore? Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well strike first and turn their whole operation upside down. Besides, Lord Shi and his wife are covering for us, so we won’t have to do much heavy lifting.”

At the mention of Lord Shi, Mei Qing recalled the child’s treatment and changed the subject. “Master, how is the child doing now?”

“How else? With me treating him, of course it was a quick recovery,” Zhang Shisan said proudly.

Right, all thanks to your treatment, Mei Qing thought bitterly but didn’t argue further. He asked, “Master, you mentioned needing their help. Do you really think Lord Shi and his wife can assist in dealing with the Fragrant Sect? From what I can see, Lady Shi has suffered a serious depletion of her energy, and Lord Shi has no cultivation at all. They probably can’t help much.”

Zhang Shisan shook his head, took a swig from his gourd, and said, “Kid, you’re still too green. You haven’t seen the bigger picture here. The Fragrant Sect was unintentionally created by this little fox. Who else but her should clean up the mess? Besides, it’s actually good for her. If the Fragrant Sect continues to cause trouble, the retribution she faces will be even worse. Her precious son turning out the way he did is partly because a union between human and demon is unacceptable in the Dao, but also a consequence of the Fragrant Sect’s actions. So you see, cause and effect are not always pleasant. Sometimes you don’t even realize how you got caught up in it, and you end up dying without knowing why.”

Mei Qing and Bi Zhen exchanged glances, both feeling uneasy. Bi Zhen, who had cultivated under the principle of cause and effect since childhood, naturally accepted it as a given, but Zhang Shisan’s words still felt hard to swallow. Mei Qing, having heard both Zhang Shisan and Master Ku discuss the nature of karma many times, felt a deeper resonance with these ideas.

Mei Qing then thought of his own relationship with Bi Zhen. They were closely bound together—his sudden cultivation breakthrough after absorbing the cauldron, and their joint success in passing the refining stage during dual cultivation, showed that they were inseparable. Yet while Bi Zhen was bound by karma, he himself wasn’t. How could such a tangled fate be resolved?

Their situation was somewhat like that of Lord and Lady Shi. Lord Shi wasn’t even a cultivator, let alone someone bound by karma, yet simply marrying a fox spirit had brought him endless troubles. How could one even begin to explain such a situation?

Thinking this through, Mei Qing couldn’t help but ask, “I understand Lady Shi’s involvement, but why are you so insistent on involving Lord Shi as well? He’s clearly not a cultivator. Dragging him into this—could there be another reason?”

“Hehe, you silly kid, didn’t you notice anything unusual about Lord Shi?” Zhang Shisan asked with a teasing grin.

Mei Qing and Bi Zhen exchanged glances, both racking their brains over every detail they knew about Lord Shi, but finally shook their heads, admitting they had noticed nothing.

Zhang Shisan laughed. “No wonder you didn’t figure it out—it’s quite unexpected. Haven’t you noticed how incredibly lucky Lord Shi is? It seems like good fortune always finds him, without him even seeking it.”

Bi Zhen felt frustrated and annoyed. “Master, are you trying to trick us again? What kind of skill is good luck?”

“Why not?” Zhang Shisan replied. “Since you’re bound by karma, you should understand—luck doesn’t just come out of nowhere. Lord Shi must have a destiny of great fortune. Otherwise, how could a fox spirit like Lady Shi have been able to stay by his side without attracting lightning tribulations? Think about it—this guy, clueless and without any real talent, still managed to attract a beautiful fox spirit who serves and cares for him, gaining both beauty and wealth while doing nothing all day but drinking. Tell me, who among us has such good fortune?”

“But…” Bi Zhen hesitated. “Are you saying Lord Shi must have accumulated good karma from a past life, and this life is just his time to enjoy it? Then why drag him into this? Just to benefit from his luck? Surely his fortune alone can’t be enough to destroy the Fragrant Sect?”

Upon arriving at Changchun Lake, Bizhen lost track of her target. After all, it was their territory, and it was easy for them to conceal things if they wanted to.

However, Bizhen did not give up. She disguised herself as a traveling physician, wandering around to gather information.

In Shijia Village, Bizhen was incidentally met by the steward of the Shi family, who invited her to the manor to treat the young master. Upon seeing the child, Bizhen immediately recognized that he suffered from a congenital deficiency, which was difficult to cure. But knowing she couldn’t speak the truth, she used some minor methods to alleviate the child’s discomfort, doing her best to help.

Gradually, she heard from the villagers about the rumors of ghosts haunting Changchun Palace, which naturally reminded her of her original purpose for tracking. She secretly went to the palace to investigate. Relying on her numerous magical tools, she managed to sneak in and discovered a small cauldron.

“This cauldron was strange at the time. It was placed on a table in the room without any protection, and there was a person staring at it in a daze, not knowing what he was doing,” Bizhen recalled. “I just felt that the aura of the cauldron was somewhat special, though it wasn’t as powerful as it is now. It seemed like something was suppressing it. I didn’t think much of it, but since I was already there and the scene in the courtyard didn’t seem benevolent, I decided to provoke them and stole the cauldron.”

Zhang Shisan listened and pondered for a while before saying, “According to my thoughts, this cauldron and the array in the courtyard might not be directly related. The secret of this cauldron might not even be fully understood by its original owner. The origin of this cauldron is likely extraordinary. However, it seems to have a connection with Mei Qing.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with this cauldron. It clings to me and won’t let go. I think my escape technique failed because of it, and I ended up in the room. Now, I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.”

Zhang Shisan chuckled and said, “Your cultivation has greatly improved. How can it be a curse? Such a ‘curse’ is something many people would wish for. As for the death of Tian Niu and the paper figures and horses in the courtyard, they might be related. If my thoughts are correct, these things have harmed more than just Tian Niu’s family.”

“Master,” Bizhen asked curiously, “Why did they harm Tian Niu? Is it related to the paper figures and horses?”

Zhang Shisan nodded and said, “People say that paper figures and horses can turn beans into soldiers. In reality, these are mostly puppetry techniques, not very powerful. They can be easily destroyed by things like dog blood. However, in the dark arts, there are secret methods that not only enhance the abilities of paper figures and horses but also prevent others from destroying them using common methods. One such method requires the blood of a virgin bride, obtained willingly. If the paper figures and horses in the courtyard were created this way, then they have harmed more than just Tian Niu. Their intentions are indeed frightening.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “If what you say is true, and the nightmare spirit is a good means to deal with cultivators, and the paper figures and horses have overcome their previous weaknesses, then the world’s armies would be helpless. It’s not hard to guess what the people in the courtyard are preparing these for. I just don’t understand who is behind all this and why they chose to use the Fragrance Sect as a cover.”

“Who cares?” Zhang Shisan said indifferently. “Once we destroy their courtyard and capture these demons, you can ask them yourself.”

“Eh?” Mei Qing said in surprise. “Master, didn’t you previously tell me a lot about staying within my limits and not going against the tide? Why have you suddenly changed your mind and decided to destroy their place?”

“That was then,” Zhang Shisan snorted. “Now that you two have stolen their things, and you’ve even met and fought with them, what’s the point of hiding? Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well strike first and turn everything upside down. Anyway, with the Shi couple supporting us, we won’t have to put in much effort.”

Hearing Zhang Shisan mention the Shi couple, Mei Qing couldn’t help but think of the child they had treated and changed the topic. “Master, how is the child now?”

“How else? With me taking action, the illness was naturally cured,” Zhang Shisan said proudly.

It was all thanks to me, your disciple, who did all the work. Mei Qing thought to himself but didn’t argue. Instead, he asked, “Master, you said the Shi couple could help, and that they would support us in dealing with the Fragrance Sect. But from what I see, Mrs. Shi is severely weakened, and Mr. Shi has no cultivation. How can they be of much help?”

Zhang Shisan shook his head, took a sip of wine from his gourd, and said, “Kid, you’re still too naive. You haven’t seen the bigger picture. The Fragrance Sect was accidentally created by that little fox. If she doesn’t clean it up, who will? Besides, it’s also a good thing for her. If the Fragrance Sect were to cause more trouble, her retribution would be even worse. Her precious son is in this state partly because the union of a human and a demon is not tolerated by the Dao, and partly because of the retribution from the Fragrance Sect. So, karma is not a good thing. Sometimes you don’t even know how you got involved, and you die without knowing why.”

Mei Qing and Bizhen exchanged glances, both feeling uneasy. Bizhen, who had always practiced karma, naturally saw it as a given, but hearing Zhang Shisan’s words, she found it hard to accept. Mei Qing, on the other hand, had heard Zhang Shisan and Master Ku talk about the origins of karma many times, so he felt it more deeply.

Mei Qing also thought about how he and Bizhen were closely connected. Just by absorbing the cauldron, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, but during dual cultivation, he still had to go through the Qi refining stage with Bizhen, which showed that they were inseparable. However, he was involved in karma, while Bizhen was not. How would this messy account be settled in the end?

Their situation was somewhat similar to that of the Shi couple. Mr. Shi wasn’t even a cultivator, let alone involved in karma. But just because he married a demon, he had to suffer so much. It was hard to explain.

Thinking of this, Mei Qing couldn’t help but say, “Mrs. Shi is one thing, but why does Master insist on the couple’s help? Mr. Shi clearly hasn’t cultivated. Why drag him into this? Is there a deeper meaning?”

“Hey, silly boy, haven’t you noticed that Mr. Shi is quite extraordinary?” Zhang Shisan asked with a teasing smile.

Mei Qing and Bizhen exchanged glances, both frowning as they tried to recall everything about Mr. Shi since they met him. Finally, they both shook their heads, indicating they hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Zhang Shisan laughed and said, “No wonder you didn’t notice. It’s quite unexpected. Haven’t you noticed that Mr. Shi seems to have incredibly good luck? It seems like good things come to him without him having to seek them out.”

Bizhen felt a bit frustrated and said, “Master, you’re teasing us again. What’s so special about good luck?”

“How is it not special?” Zhang Shisan said. “Since you’re involved in karma, you should know that luck doesn’t come by chance. Mr. Shi must have a very fortunate destiny. Otherwise, how could the little fox stay by his side without being struck by heavenly lightning? Think about it, this guy, who doesn’t have any special skills, has a beautiful demon wife who takes care of him, giving him both beauty and wealth, and he spends his days drinking without a care in the world… Can any of us have such luck?”

“But…” Bizhen was momentarily speechless. “Master, are you saying that Mr. Shi must have done something good in his past life? If that’s the case, shouldn’t he just enjoy his life now? Why drag him into this? Are you just trying to benefit from his good fortune? Can his luck alone destroy the Fragrance Sect?”

“Hey, little girl, don’t be so skeptical. Since I’ve arranged it this way, there must be a reason. You’ll understand in time,” Zhang Shisan said proudly.

As he spoke, he glanced at the sky outside and said, “That little fox seems smart, but why is she so careless? Has she forgotten about the doctor now that her son is better? Are we going to miss out on today’s wine?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous voice was heard outside the courtyard, “Old Master, Shi kowtows to you!”

Everyone turned around to see Mr. Shi running over, and from a distance, he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and then prostrating on the ground, crying loudly.

“Ah, Master, slow down…” Everyone was stunned by Mr. Shi’s sudden outburst. Fortunately, Mrs. Shi, holding the child, quickly followed and helped Mr. Shi up, saying apologetically, “My husband is overwhelmed with emotion. Please don’t laugh.”

Mr. Shi cried like a downpour, with tears streaming down his beard and clothes, holding onto Mrs. Shi and not letting go. “Wife, it’s finally over. Lenz is really better, wah…”

Mrs. Shi held her wide-eyed son in one arm and comforted Mr. Shi with the other. Mr. Shi, a burly man, cried loudly in Mrs. Shi’s arms, while Mrs. Shi spoke softly to comfort him. The family of three was in their own world, leaving everyone present dumbfounded.

Bizhen murmured, “So, having too much luck turns people into this… Mei Qing, you have good luck too. Be careful.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the sky and said, “This little fox seems smart, so why did she handle this matter so ungraciously? Has she already forgotten the doctor after her son recovered? Are we going to miss out on another feast?”

Just as he finished, a thunderous voice came from outside the courtyard: “Grandmaster Taoist, Shi humbly kowtows to you!”

Everyone turned in surprise to see Lord Shi running toward them. From a distance, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud, bowed deeply, and didn’t lift his head, sobbing loudly on the ground.

“Oh dear, my lord, please slow down a bit…” Everyone was stunned by this sudden display, but soon Lady Shi appeared, carrying Lengzi in her arms. She forcibly pulled Lord Shi up and said apologetically, “My husband got carried away with emotion. Please don’t laugh at him.”

Lord Shi wept uncontrollably, his tears soaking his beard and robe as he clung to Lady Shi, crying, “My dear wife, it’s all better now! Lengzi is really healed!”

Lady Shi held her wide-eyed, bewildered son in one arm and gently comforted Lord Shi with the other. Despite his burly frame, Lord Shi sobbed loudly in his wife’s arms, while she whispered soothing words. The sight of this family of three, each playing their part, left everyone present momentarily dumbfounded.

Bi Zhen murmured, “So this is what happens when someone has too much luck… Mei Qing, your luck isn’t bad either. Be careful.”